Improvement ih fruit-pickers



UNITED STATES PATENT EEroE.

ADAM W. OVERHOLSER, OF DUCHOUQUET TOVNSHIP, AUGLAIZE COUNTY,

IMPROVEMENT IN FRUIT-PICKERS..

Specification forming part of Letters' Patent No. 417,426, dated February `l0, 1874; application filed Ostober 25, 1873.

To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, ADAM XV. OVERnoLsER, of Duchouquet township, in the county of Au- .glnize and State of Ohio, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Fruit-Pickers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation ofthe saine, reference being had to the annexed drawings making a part of this specification, and to the letters and iigures of reference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawings is a representation of a sectional view of my fruit-picker. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Y

This invention has relation to fruit-pickers of the kind which have long iiexible bags or conductors reaching from a picking device on the end of a pole into a bag or basket carried by the operator. It consists in combining piclc in g-forks with a band on the flexible conductor and a hinged spring lid or cover, as will be hereinafter explained.

The following is a description of my improvenients:

In the annexed drawings, Arepresents a staff or rod, which is composed of short sections jointed together by inserting the end -of one section into a socket formed on the end of another section, and then securing the joint by means of a hook and eye, a, or other equivalent fastening. A is a socket, which is rigidly secured on one end of the rod A, the sides of which are extended so as to form a ring or band, C, to which the upper end of a iiexible conductoris suitably attached. This conductor is tubular, and made of cotton cloth. It is composed of tubular sections D, attached together by buttons and holes g, or other fastenings, the sections being about as long as the sections or joints composing the rod A. The end of the lowest section is open for the discharge of the fruit into a suitable receptacle carried by the gatherer; and at or near this open end is formed a circular pad or cushion, h, which may be stuffed with hair or cotton, and which will preventl the fruit from being bruised in its fall through the conductor. The conductor, as well as the rod A, can he shortened or lengthened, according to the trees from which the fruit is to be gathered. B represents a lid having an open-grated back, and which is of such diameter as will allow it to iit into the ring or band C. This lid is connected to the socket-piece A by means `of a pivot, d, and a spring, s, which is coiled around the same, which spring acts to close the lid against a stop, c, in the band C. Three or more curved tines, f, are secured into the socketpiece A and curved upward in front of the spring s, so as to form a fork for separating the fruit from its branches and allowing it to fall into the conductor. The lid is opened and drawn. back by means of a cord, c, which passes along the rod A through eyes bflxed thereto, and is attached to a loop, c', on the free end of the lid', as shown in the drawings.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a fruit-picker, the fork-teeth j', combined with the socket A, the band C, and the hinged spring-lid B, as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the aboveV I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

ADAM W. OVERHOLSER.

Vitnesses:

N. B. HOWARD,

J. B. JoNEs. 

